The Somerset reporter., 1887-02-23
At w shington.

When Representative Reed of Maine
WAS shown the dispatch in the New York
| Herald to the effect that Mr.. Blaine was
using him to defeat the coast dcfences
and war ship appropriations, he said II
| knew that lying is considered essential in
printing great newspaper, else | should
have been surprised al the statement. My
only curiosity is about the idiot who in
vented the story
The Senate has passed by vote of 10
| To Il senator IInl"'S hill for hnn,.I
incurred vessels Tor coast defense. The
bill appropriates So ,4oo,oOo for this pur-
pose.
The Mormon conference report bill
has passed the House, liz to Il. The
Senate will pass it and it then goes to the
President.
Congressman Milliken has been assured
by Assistant Secretary Fairchld that the
complaint of smuggling Canadian lumber
to Maine ports, would be properly looked
into.
1t is claimed that import dues are eyad-
ed annually on about two million dollars
worth of lumber from the st. John and
st. Croix rivers The Totmans of Fair
field who are heavily interested in ship
ping lumber in that region are in Wash
The House committee on invalid pen
sions, by unanimous vote, decided to re
port back the dependent pension bill with
the recommendation that it be passed
over the Presidents veto. 1t will be
called up Thursday next
Saturday in the Senate the military
academy bill was reported back. The
Senate passed the bill for the retirement
and re-coinagc of the trade dollars. The
bill will become law, on receiving the
Presidents autograph. Frye, Morrill, and
Sherman voted against the bill, but il
passed 40 to ).
Congress is far in arrears with its APP
preparation bills, and lively work will be
necessary if an extra session is to be
avoided.
The Star Administrations Organ states
that Mr.. Pcndleton will have the portfo-
lilo of war, Mr.. Villas will take the at
torncy generalship, and that Col Daniel
S. Lamont will become postmaster gen
cral.
Other changes are talked about but
this talk is probably mere gossip, which
has its origin in the desires and curiosity
of those who circulate it. There is, how
ever some substance in the current re-
port that Mr.. Garland will be offered a
place on the railroad commission.
The Senate has agreed to all the amend
ments of the commerce committee, To the
river and harbur bill, which affect Maine
rivers and harbors.
The House committee on postotlices
and post roads have voted to uon-concur
in the Senate $500, 900 mail subsidy"
amendment to the pOStOtllCe appropriation
ton bill 1t will come up in the House
early this week, and one hour is to be al
lowed to each side for debate. There is
no hope tat the decision Of the House
will be different from that of last year.
though it is thought that Il larger vote
may be cast in its favor than last year.
The House committee on pensions have
ordered Il favorable report upon the claim
of Abbie X Brown, widow of John A. !
Brown, late sergeant of the Fifth Bat
terry, Maine Light Artillery. He died
July 10Th, 1850, leaving pending claim
for pension, based on rheumatism. His
death was caused by pneumonia aud the
widows claim was rejected on the ground |
that the disease of which he died was not |
incident to his service. The sworn state |
ment Of Abner Q. Shaw. NJ. d.. of Port |
land, states that while the accident of tax |
ing cold fastened the event of his death |
short time, yet death was certain from by a |
malarial poisoning contracted during the
service. The committee think that in |
cases involving similar principles it has |
been the almost invariable rule of Con- |
gress to grant relief to the widow, and |
therefore recommend the passage of the |
bill